Hand-held multifunctional tool to assist in decorating activities

ABSTRACT

A hand-held tool useful for a decorator, particularly while wallpapering, comprises a substantially flat body ( 1 ) having several retaining means ( 2, 20, 4, 6 ) formed in it for holding implements such as a pencil (P), knife (K) and spirit levels (S 1,  S 2 ). A pair of spirit levels (S 1,  S 2 ) are retained in retaining means ( 2, 20 ) at right angles to one another to enable horizontal and vertical lines to be found. Knife (K) is retained in a groove ( 6 ) with its blade shielded to prevent it from accidentally injuring a person. The tool has a flexible edge area ( 12 ) which tapers to a straight, ruled edge ( 12   b ). This area ( 12 ) is useful for pressing pasted paper onto a wall and for removing air-bubbles. Edge ( 12   b ), which is parallel to one spirit level (S 1 ) and perpendicular to the other (S 2 ), facilitates the measuring of distances between widths of wallpaper. Studs ( 9 ) are provided on a rear face of the body ( 1 ) so that the body stands proud of a surface and can thereby be more easily grasped.

The present invention relates to a tool and in particular to a tool forassisting a decorator in conducting tasks such as wallpapering, walltiling, sign writing and the like.

Decorating works of the type mentioned above require substantial skillin order to produce a good finish. For example, wallpapering requiresthat the first length of paper be hung very straight so that it andsubsequent lengths are vertical. Once the first length is hung properly,it is a relatively simple matter to ensure that the rest of the lengthsare correctly aligned to the first one. Ensuring that each lengthcontacts the wall properly so that bubbling, usually caused by airpockets or excess paste is avoided is another aspect of the job whichrequires a good degree of skill and it can be a time-consuming task toensure that all air pockets are evacuated and the paste spread evenlybefore going on to hang the following length of paper.

Another difficulty which arises with wallpapering is that of obtainingneat cut edges, for example at the bottom of the lengths, around lightswitches, radiators, architraves, windows and so on. It is a matter ofsome difficulty to obtain a clean cut and to avoid any ripping ortearing of the paper.

Likewise, in the conduct of jobs such as hanging borders, picture- ordado-rails, tiles, signwriting and so on, it is very important to ensurethat the border, etc., is properly positioned relative to the verticaland horizontal.

The present invention seeks to provide a versatile tool which is usefulto a decorator in many aspects of the tasks he or she conducts, and isparticularly helpful for wallpapering.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a decorator's toolcomprising a substantially flat, hand-holdable device, the device havinga body including:

a flexible spreading region for a) pressing a pasted surface coveringmaterial to a wall,

b) distributing the paste evenly between the pasted surface and the walland c) removing air or excess paste from between the pasted surface andthe wall;

a straight edge;

means for retaining a pair of levelling devices respectively horizontaland parallel to the straight edge;

retaining means for removably receiving a marking implement; and

fixing means for removably engaging a cutting, implement.

Preferably, the retaining means and the fixing means are provided on afront side of the body. Advantageously, the means for retaining thelevelling devices are arranged in the body such that the levellingdevices retained thereon are viewable from the front and rear sides ofthe body.

In a preferred arrangement, the fixing means includes guard means forsurrounding a cutting edge of a cutting implement when mounted on thebody to prevent the cutting edge from inadvertently causing injury to auser. The fixing means may comprise a groove for receiving the cuttingimplement and the groove may include engaging means for retaining thecutting implement. In addition, the fixing means may include formationsengageable with complementary formations of the cutting implement forretaining the cutting implement in engagement with the body.

The retaining means conveniently comprises a track sized to receive amarking means such as a pencil and means for releasably holding themarking means in the track. The holding means may comprise a pair ofopposed tabs biased toward one another and capable of receiving themarking means between them by push-fit. In a preferred arrangement, aplurality of such holding means are provided, spaced along the length ofthe track.

The straight edge is conveniently provided with ruler markings forenabling a user to measure distances. In a preferred arrangement, thestraight edge is provided at the edge of the spreading region and thespreading region is formed integrally with the device as a surfacethereof which extends from the body of the device and tapers toward thestraight edge. The straight edge may be used to facilitate the user inthe drawing of straight guidelines or as a guide for making straightcuts in the covering material.

Conveniently, the rear side of the body includes at least one studmember spaced from the rear surface for elevating the rear surface clearof any support surface against which the rear side of the device isrested in use.

Whilst the spreading region should have some degree of flexibility, itneed not be of a soft or rubbery consistency and a good degree ofrigidity is preferred to ensure that the edge can be placed definitelyinto corners and the like. In a preferred arrangement, the tool is sizedto fit into a pocket, such as a back pocket of overalls or jeans so thatit can easily be reached for and found as and when it is needed. It isalso advantageous that the tool be made of a brightly coloured material,such as brightly coloured plastics material so that the tool is highlyvisible and can readily be found if left on a surface. A considerableamount of time can be lost by a decorator when he or she places toolsdown, as they can readily become buried under paper cut-offs and othermaterials. In addition to combining all the necessary implements intoone handy tool, the present invention provides a tool which is sized tofit into a pocket of the decorator's clothing so that it is alwaysconveniently to hand when needed. Even if it is put down, its brightcoloration makes it easy to see so that it can be retrieved readily.

The invention will now be described more particularly with reference tothe accompanying drawings, which show, by way of example only, oneembodiment of a decorator's tool according to the invention. In thedrawings:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of the front face of a tool in accordance with theinvention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the rear face of the tool;

FIG. 3 is a left side elevational view of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 4 is a bottom side elevational view of FIG. 1.

Referring now to the drawings, the tool comprises a substantially flathand held tool body 1 having several sets of retaining means for holdingimplements which are commonly used by a decorator. Retaining means 2 isadapted to hold a spirit level S1 and comprises a pair of grips (2 a, 2b), (2 c, 2 d) disposed in the walls of a slot 3. Each pair of grips (2a, 2 b) or (2 c,2 d) has a concave surface which engages with andretains the convex surface of the spirit level S1 in the slot 3 betweenthem. A second similar retaining means 20 is disposed at right angles toretaining means 2 for holding a second spirit level S2 and to enable thetool to be used for finding the vertical and the horizontal at the sametime. The spirit levels S1 and S2 are held in the retaining means 2, 20as snap-fits, but may alternatively be fixed therein by any othersuitable fixing means including adhesive. The spirit levels S1 and S2are held in the body 1 so that they are spaced from both the front (1 a)and the rear (1 b) faces of the body.

A track 4 is provided on the front face 1 a of the tool 1 and is sizedand shaped to receive a marker means such as a pencil P. Pairs ofopposed tabs 5 are disposed at intervals along the length of the track 4and are biased toward one another for retaining between them the pencilP as a snap-fit. Most preferably, at least two sets of tabs 5 areprovided so that the pencil P may still be retained by at least twopairs of tabs spaced along the length of the track, even as it is usedand pared down to shorter lengths.

Adjacent that end 11 of the tool 1 which in use is held in the hand isdisposed a groove 6 adapted to receive and retain a snap-off bladedknife K. As with track 4, groove 6 may include tabs (not shown) forretaining the knife in the groove 6. The groove 6 also includes a guard7 which closes off the end of the groove 6 at which the blade end of theknife K is housed. Guard 7 has two spaced apart parallel walls 7 a, 7 bconnected by a slanted wall 7 c.

Walls 7 a, 7 b, 7 c are spaced from the planar surface of the front face1 a of the tool 1. As is common with such knives, knife K includes areusable, scored blade B which is advanced to the tip T of knife K bysliding the knob A in the direction of the arrow. The blade B can beused for cutting when it emerges beyond the tip T of the knife K. Theknife K is introduced into the groove 6 by sliding it from the open end6 a of the groove 6, and along the groove 6, tip T leading, until thetip T containing the blade B impinges against guard wall 7 c and comesto rest against the guard 7. Thus, even if the blade B is extended, theguard 7 serves to protect the user from being accidentally cut by theblade B, provided that the blade B has not been locked in its extendedposition. If the blade B is locked in the extended position, the guard 7will shield the user from being cut by it.

Furthermore, even if the blade B has been left in an extruded position,as the knife K moves into place in the groove 6, the abutment betweenthe blade B and the guard wall 7 c causes the blade B to be retractedinto the knife K. The travel of the knife K in the groove 6 can also belimited by the choice of a knife K which is provided with a clip C atits end distal the tip T. The clip C is of the type commonly provided onpens to enable them to be attached to the breast pocket. The clip Cpasses along the rear side of the base 6 b of the groove 6 and when thebase of the clip C abuts the free end 6 a of the groove, further travelof the knife 6 is prevented and the knife 6 is retained in the frontside of the base 6 b of the groove 6 by the biasing of the clip C towardthe body of the knife K, thus clamping the knife K to the base 6 b ofthe groove 6. The location of the clip with the groove 6 may be enhancedby the provision of knurling (not shown) on the rear face 1 b of thetool 1 which is complementary to knurling provided on the clip C so thatthe sets of knurled formations nest together to retain the parts in moresecure engagement.

The area 12 of the tool 1 tapers from the line 12 a to the straight edge12 b and is fabricated from a material which has some flexibility. Thisarea is provided with measurements along its length, either in metric orimperial units, or both. Edge 12 b is parallel to the longitudinal axisof spirit level S1 and perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of spiritlevel S2.

Finally, studs 9 are provided on the rear face of the tool 1. Onefunction of the studs 9 is to assist the user in picking the tool 1 up,as they cause it to be spaced from a surface. Another function whichthey serve is to protect the spirit levels S1 and S2, as these extendslightly beyond the rear side of the tool 1 and could be broken were thetool to be dropped on that side. The studs 9 stand further beyond therear face than do the spirit levels S1 and S2 and therefore protect thelevels from shattering if the tool is dropped onto its rear face.

The use of the tool will now be described with particular reference towallpapering activity.

The first step is to mark the wall with a vertical line to define a linewith which one of the longitudinal edges of the first length of paper isto be aligned. This is done by holding the tool in the hand, with itsrear face facing the wall and with the edge 12 b disposed vertically.The position of the tool is altered slightly until spirit level S2indicates that the edge 12 b is vertical. Holding the tool 1 in thatposition, the user then removes the pencil P from its track 4 and drawsa line on the wall using the edge 12 b as a guide. The studs 9 assist inkeeping all parts of the tool 1, with the exception of the part of area12 closest to the edge 12 b, clear of the wall and thus assist the userin retaining hold of the tool 1 and in sliding the tool upwardly and/ordownwardly to elongate the line.

A length of wallpaper is then cut, pasted and fitted to the wall usingthe pre-drawn vertical line as a guide. The length can then be smootheddown onto the wall using the flexible edge 12 b of the tool as aspreader to press the paper into contact with the wall, to even out thepaste and to move any air bubbles or excess paste from between thewallpaper and the wall.

Once the length is hung, it can be trimmed top and bottom using tieknife K. The knife K is withdrawn from its groove 6 and the blade B isadvanced clear of the tip T. Next, the straight edge 12 b is alignedhorizontally against the wallpaper with the wallpaper to be trimmed offextending away from the edge 12 b. Spirit level S1 can be used to ensurethat the edge 12 b is properly aligned horizontally. Using the blade B,the paper is then cut, to give a clean, neat finish to the paper. Thebevelling or tapering of the area 12 toward the straight edge 12 bassists the user in obtaining a clean cut, as it rests against thewallpaper which is to remain on the wall, protecting it from beingdragged or tom as the blade B is drawn across. Once the cut has beenmade, the blade B is retracted and the knife K is replaced in the groove6. Should the user forget to retract the blade B, then the guard 7 willcause the blade B to be retracted, in the manner described above, as theknife K is pressed home in the groove 6.

It is convenient to hang the first length of wallpaper bordering acorner and to assist in this, the rulings R provided adjacent the edge12 b enable the user to mark the first guideline at a distance spacedfrom the corner by the width of the wallpaper. Typically, this width is520 mm. In a preferred arrangement, the width of the edge 12 b is 250mm, and the user can therefore nest the tool 1 into the corner, with theedge 12 b horizontal. The tool is then slid sideways by two distances ofthe edge 12 b, plus an additional 20 mm and the guideline is drawn atthat point.

Thus, the user has at hand at all times and in a convenientpresentation, the various implements needed to carry out the work. Itwill be appreciated that the tool is of great assistance for aspects ofwallpapering which are generally considered awkward and tedious, forexample fitting the paper about light switches or sockets or into windowreveals, as it includes a knife, pencil, straight edge, ruler andlevelling aids, all neatly presented in one tool. In addition, itincludes a handy spreader which enables the user to obtain a good smoothfinish with a superior distribution of paste over the pasted surface ofthe wallpaper. Since the spreading edge 12 b enables paste to beefficiently distributed on the paper in an even fashion, less paste maybe needed than would otherwise be the case, therefore the paste driesfaster and the final surface achieved after the paste has dried is evenand smooth.

The tool 1 is equally useful for tasks such as hanging borders or tiles.In either case, the levelling aids enable the user to ensure thatcorrect horizontal and vertical alignments are obtained and the rulerprovided on the area 12 adjacent the edge 12 b is of assistance inmarking distances. This combination of features also makes the tool 1useful to a signwriter. It will be appreciated therefore, that the tool1 is equally useful to the professional decorator and to thedo-it-yourself user. It provides a combination tool which ismultifunctional and which assists the user in completing the taskefficiently, as the necessary implements are to hand at all times in asingle tool and the user can avoid the frustrations and delays caused bymislaying the various implements when these are provided separately.

The dimensions of the tool 1 may be chosen as required. One particularadvantageous set of dimensions is where the distance between the edges11 and 12 b is 100 mm and the length of the edge 12 b as 250 mm. Thissize is useful as it is a good size for holding and working and smallenough to fit in a pocket so that the user can have the tool to hand atall times whilst the job is being done.

Most advantageously, the tool is formed without rough or sharp edgeswhich might snag or catch the wallpaper, causing it to tear. In apreferred arrangement therefore, the edges of the tool will be roundedand/or chamfered.

It will of course be understood that the invention is not limited to thespecific details described herein, which are given by way of exampleonly, and that various modifications and alterations are possible withinthe scope of the invention, as defined in the appended claims.

What is claimed is:
 1. A decorator's tool comprising a substantiallyflat, hand-holdable device, the device having a body (1) including: aunitary flexible spreading region (12) for a) pressing a pasted surfacecovering material to a wall, b) distributing the paste evenly betweenthe pasted surface and the wall and c) removing air or excess paste frombetween the pasted surface and the wall; a straight edge (12 b); a pairof levelling devices (S1,S2), a marking implement (P), and a cuttingimplement (K); means (2,20) for retaining the pair of levelling devices(S1,S2) respectively perpendicular and parallel to the straight edge;grip means (4) for removably receiving the marking implement (P); andfixing means (6) for removably engaging the cutting implement (K),wherein the fixing means (6) includes formations engageable withcomplementary formations of the cutting implement (K) for retaining thecutting implement (K) in engagement with the body (1).
 2. A toolaccording to claim 1, in which the grip means (4) and the fixing means(6) are provided on a front side of the body and the means (2,20) forretaining the levelling devices (S1, S2) are arranged in the body (1)such that the levelling devices retained thereon are viewable from thefront and rear sides of the body.
 3. A tool according to claim 1, inwhich the fixing means includes guard means (7) for surrounding acutting edge of a cutting implement when mounted on the body to preventthe cutting edge from inadvertently causing injury to a user.
 4. A toolaccording to claim 3, in which the fixing means comprises a groove (6)for receiving the cutting implement and the groove includes engagingmeans for retaining the cutting implement.
 5. A tool according to claim1, in which the grip means comprises a track (4) sized to receive themarking implement (P) and means (5) for releasably holding the markingimplement (P) in the track.
 6. A tool according to claim 5, in which theholding means comprises a pair of opposed tabs (5) biased toward oneanother and capable of receiving the marking means between them bypush-fit.
 7. A tool according to claim 1, in which the straight edge (12b) is provided with ruler markings (R) for enabling a user to measuredistances.
 8. A tool according to claim 1, in which the straight edge isprovided at the edge of the spreading region and the spreading region isformed integrally with the device as a surface thereof which extendsfrom the body of the device and tapers toward the straight edge.
 9. Atool according to claim 1, in which the rear side of the body includesat least one stud member (9) spaced from of the rear surface forelevating the rear surface clear of any support surface against whichthe rear side of the device is rested in use.
 10. A tool according toclaim 1, in which the body is fabricated from a brightly colouredplastic material.